plate no. 1496

Jacobus Zaffius

oil, panelBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanfurclothingcoat of arms

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It will also provide practice in depicting textures such as fur and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on accurate placement of facial features.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, clothing, and fur, paying attention to value relationships.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, adding details such as highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Develop the texture of the fur collar using short, broken brushstrokes and varying values.
step 06
Refine the details of the clothing, including the collar and dark coat.
step 07
Add the coat of arms in the upper left corner, simplifying the design as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use burnt sienna and cadmium red light to add warmth to the skin tones and fur.

techniques